Record-Breaking 23-Minute Ovation For Gaza Film The Voice Of Hind Rajab In Venice
In a history-making moment at the 82nd Venice International Film Festival, Tunisian director Kaouther Ben Hania’s new film, The Voice of Hind Rajab, received a 23-minute standing ovation on Thursday, the longest ever recorded at a major film festival.
The emotional response eclipsed the 22-minute applause that greeted Guillermo del Toro’s Pan’s Labyrinth at Cannes in 2006.
The film, which had its world premiere on 3 September 2025, is a harrowing re-enactment of the final moments of six-year-old Hind Rajab, a Palestinian girl killed in Gaza City in January 2024 along with her relatives and two paramedics who attempted to rescue her.
The Venice premiere was charged with emotion. Actor Motaz Malhees, who stars in the film, waved a Palestinian flag on stage, drawing sobs from the audience and triggering chants of “Free Palestine.” Members of the cast held up a photo of Hind Rajab throughout the ovation, amplifying the poignancy of the moment.
Hoy, el actor palestino Motaz Malhees ha exhibido la bandera de Palestina en el Festival de Venecia con la película ‘La voz de Hind’, que narra la historia de una niña palestina asesinada por Israel. Sufrió dos ataques de pánico durante el rodaje: “Podría haber sido yo”. pic.twitter.com/plRbysJ48D
— Fonsi Loaiza (@FonsiLoaiza) September 3, 2025
Hollywood powerhouses Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara, who recently joined the film as executive producers alongside Brad Pitt, Alfonso Cuarón, and Jonathan Glazer, attended the red carpet premiere in Venice. Both actors stood in solidarity with the film’s message and embraced the director, Kaouther Ben Hania, during the extended applause.
The drama is based on real events from 29 January 2024, when Hind Rajab was trapped in a car amid Israeli military strikes in Gaza. Audio recordings of the terrified girl’s pleas for help went viral worldwide, igniting global outrage. Despite repeated calls to aid agencies, Hind, her cousins, and the paramedics who attempted to save her were killed.
Also, read| Are Brad Pitt & Joaquin Phoenix Really Backing A Gaza Film On Hind Rajab’s Killing?
In a personal statement, Kaouther Ben Hania revealed that she was working on another project when she first heard the audio of Hind’s desperate phone call. “After listening to it, I knew, without a doubt, that I had to drop everything else. I had to make this film,” she said.
The film has already garnered unanimous critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, all early reviews are positive, with critics praising it as both a devastating human story and a bold act of political cinema.
Many predict that the film will not only dominate festival season but could also emerge as a strong contender at the 98th Academy Awards, where it has been officially selected as Tunisia’s entry for Best International Feature Film.
Also, read| Gal Gadot Misses Venice Film Festival Amid Israel Backlash? Claims She Was Never Meant To Attend
Its Venice premiere placement in the Golden Lion competition cements its standing as one of the most important films of the year. The project’s Hollywood backing, with producers like Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Rooney Mara, and Brad Pitt, is expected to amplify its Oscar campaign.
The film situates Hind Rajab’s story within the broader tragedy of Gaza. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, more than 64,000 people have been killed in Israeli strikes since October 2023, following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel that killed 1,200 and took 251 hostages.
Though the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) initially claimed its troops had not been within firing range of Hind’s car, no final investigation results have been published.
